HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Woodstock Farm Festival Wednesdays are here: Come shop for farm food, listen to live music & eat al fresco!

Woodstock Farm Festival Wednesdays started on May 29th and will run until October 23rd for the 2013 season.  It's a lovely community scene, and as one vendor says, it seems to get bigger and bigger every month.  If you drive by, it just looks like a small farmers market, but there is large area behind the market that has a few more vendors, a few restaurant stands, a live band, and a dozen or so picnic tables to dine at.  It's very relaxed and kid-friendly. If you happen to be in Woodstock on Wednesdays from  3:30 to dusk, you should defnitely check it out. WoodstockFarmFestival.com.

Scenes and dishes from 1st Annual Taste of Woodstock on sultry Spring night!

 

Woodstock Film Festival volunteers selling tickets

 

Cheers to the 1st Annual Taste of Woodstock!

 

Buddhalove Smoothie, gazpacho and sandwiches from Little Apple

New World Home Cooking tent 

Joan Quigley serving lentil salad at the Garden Cafe

Bread Alone had a magnificent spread!

Visitors enjoying the 1st Annual Taste of Woodstock

Maria's Bazaar got the prize for most generous tasting in my book!

Peace Love Cupcakes are incredible!

 

 

Sunfrost served kale cakes and turkey meatballs

Chicken tikka from Mountain Gate Indian Restaurant

Kevin from The Red Onion serving very spicy and yummy calamari

What a delicious night I had covering the 1st Annual Taste of Woodstock for HVGS. I picked up my wristband at the Woodstock Film Festival office, had a few sips of Woodstock Wine, and began eating my way through Woodstock. At each restaurant stop, my ballot was stamped, and at the end of the night I voted for my favorite appetizer, entree, and dessert. All the dishes were yummy, but for me the stand-outs were the offerings from New World Home Cooking, Bread Alone, Red Onion, Cucina, Joshua's, and Little Apple. The pork slider at Landau's Grill was really good too, but by the time I got there I had kind of reach my limit. You really do get a lot of food to eat when you sample food from 15. restaurants! Everything was good though, and yes, I did taste everything!

It was a fun community fundraiser for the Woodstock Film Festival, and while the crowds can't compare to the Taste of Rhinebeck, I think with more promotion, and maybe even more restaurants, the event will draw more crowds in years to come. There were a few dissapointed passerbys who wanted to try out the food, but didn't realize it was part of a fundraiser and tickets were $80 each. I will post more photos from the 1st Taste of Woodstock on the Hudson Valley Good Stuff Fan Page shortly. Did you go? What was your favorite dish?

12 Things to do this Memorial Day Weekend 2013 in the Hudson Valley!

 

Delicious cobbler dessert special at Duo Bistro in Uptown Kingston

 

Memorial Day Weekend is almost here! If you are looking for fun stuff to do in the Hudson Valley this holiday weekend, here are 12 ideas to get you started.

1. Belleayre Beach in Pine Hill opens up May 25th-June 14th for weekends only. You can rent a paddle boat here too. The snack bar is pretty limited so if you are hungry, bring your lunch in a cooler.

2. Jump on a Jumping Pillow at Kelder's Farm and pose with the World's Second Largest Garden Gnome.

3. The Trolley Museum of NY (Kingston Trolley Museum) will have its seasonal opening this weeken. Great family fun for young train buffs.

4. The Kingston Farmers Market in Uptown Kingston begins on May 25th on Wall Street in Kingston. Afterwards you can walk over to Duo Bistro for a gourmet brunch or lunch.

5.  If you are in the Woodstock area, check out Woodstock Concert on the Green on Saturday, May 25th where great Hudson Valley bands will be performing from 1:00pm to 6:00pm on The Green. 1:00 - Students of Paul Green Rock Academy, 1:45 - Two Dollar Goat, 2:30 - Sin City, 3:15 - Passero 4:00 - Hamilton Hill Robotic Steel Band. 4:45 - Ronnie Bait Band. 5:15 - Two Dark Birds.

6.  Celebrate Bob Dylan's birthday at Bearsville Theater on Sunday, May 26th. This show may sell out quickly. "Soundout" will feature Tracy Bonham, Donald Fagan, Amy Helm, and a dozen more! This is benefit for the Woodstock Day School.

7.  Chichester Yoga is having special themed weekend on Memorial Day Weekend. Come take part in "Chakra Spark" with Megan Leigh. Do check out. Not only do they have talented yoga instructors, they have the best yoga views in the Hudson Valley!

8.  Go to an old fashioned Memorial Day parade in Rhinebeck on May 27th, starting at 9:15 am. Walk over to Gigi's Trattoria for a farm to table lunch. Skizza Bianca is my fave!

9. Hang out with very cool farm animals at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.  

10. Looking for really good restaurants to dine out during the holiday weekend? Check out my "Restaurants I Love" section for ideas. These are restaurants I would eat at every week if I could!

11. Rent a Harley at Woodstock Harley Davidson!

12. On Friday, May 24^th – The Forsyth Nature Center is offering Friday Night Paddles on the Rondout. Meet under the Wurts Street Bridge on the Promenade at 5:30 p.m. All paddles include equipment. Discounts are given to Kingston residents. Registration is mandatory. For more information & to register online visit: www.kingstonparksandrec.org

 

Paddle by the Rondout in Kingston